What is acral melanoma?

Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), also sometimes referred to as, simply, acral melanoma, is melanoma occurring on the hands and feet (palms, soles, fingers, toes, and nail units). The word acral derives from the Greek word referring to the highest or topmost portion of the limbs (extremities).

What does acral melanoma look like?

The main sign of acral lentiginous melanoma is a black or brown discoloration that appears on the sole of the foot or palm of the hand. It may resemble a bruise or stain, but over time it grows in size. Acral lentiginous melanoma occurs equally among people of all races and backgrounds.

How long can you live with acral lentiginous melanoma?

Acral lentiginous melanoma had 5- and 10-year melanoma-specific survival rates of 80.3% and 67.5%, respectively, which were less than those for all cutaneous malignant melanomas overall (91.3% and 87.5%, respectively; P < . 001).

Is acral lentiginous melanoma fatal?

Acral lentiginous melanoma in situ is not dangerous; it only becomes potentially life-threatening if an invasive melanoma develops within it.

Is acral melanoma common?

Acral melanoma, sometimes called acral lentiginous melanoma, is a rare type of skin melanoma that forms on the palms, soles of feet, or under finger or toe nails. Acral melanoma is the most common type of melanoma among people with darker skin.

Acral Lentiginous Melanoma Dermatopathology

What does acral mean?

The term "acral" refers to the fact that the skin peeling in this condition is most apparent on the hands and feet. Occasionally, peeling also occurs on the arms and legs. The peeling is usually evident from birth, although the condition can also begin in childhood or later in life.

How fast does acral melanoma grow?

Most acral lentiginous melanomas are brown and occur on the soles in individuals older than 60 years of age. Lesions generally evolve over a period of years and reach an average diameter of 3 cm before the diagnosis is established.

How do people get acral lentiginous melanoma?

Acral lentiginous melanoma causes

ALM happens because the melanocytes in your skin become malignant. A tumor will continue to grow and spread until it's removed. Unlike other forms of melanoma, acral lentiginous melanoma is not associated with excess sun exposure.

Is acral melanoma painful?

Acral lentiginous melanoma may be painful if it reaches advanced stages in certain areas of your body. If lesions are found on the sole of your foot, the growths may thicken as the cancer progresses and may cause walking to be painful.

How aggressive is acral melanoma?

Acral lentiginous melanoma is very aggressive type of skin cancer. If not treated, it can be life-threatening. Acral lentiginous melanoma is a very aggressive type of melanoma that appears on the palms of the hands, the soles of the feet, or under the nails.

Is the survival rate for acral melanoma actually worse than other cutaneous melanomas?

Purpose. Acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), a relatively rare subtype of cutaneous melanoma, has been reported to have a worse prognosis than other melanomas.

What are acral areas?

acral (not comparable) Of or pertaining to peripheral body parts, such as toes and fingers. Acral melanoma is a type of skin cancer that occurs on fingers, palms, soles, and nail beds. Acral distribution of a dermatosis means it affects distal portions of limbs (hand, foot) and head (ears, nose).

How fast does foot melanoma spread?

Melanoma can grow very quickly. It can become life-threatening in as little as 6 weeks and, if untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma can appear on skin not normally exposed to the sun. Nodular melanoma is a highly dangerous form of melanoma that looks different from common melanomas.

Is foot melanoma curable?

Foot melanoma is often treatable in the early stages. However, people will usually receive a diagnosis during the later stages, as the symptoms may not be easily noticeable. If foot melanoma spreads, or metastasizes, it can be life threatening. Foot melanoma most often initially spreads to the lymph nodes.

Can you have melanoma for years and not know?

How long can you have melanoma and not know it? It depends on the type of melanoma. For example, nodular melanoma grows rapidly over a matter of weeks, while a radial melanoma can slowly spread over the span of a decade. Like a cavity, a melanoma may grow for years before producing any significant symptoms.

What does foot melanoma look like?

Aside from looking like a changing mole, a melanoma on the foot can appear as a: Brown or black vertical line under a toenail. Pinkish-red spot or growth. New spot or growth where you injured your foot.

What are acral lesions?

An acral nevus is a cutaneous condition of the palms, soles, fingers, or toes (peripheral body parts), characterized by a skin lesion that is usually macular or only slightly elevated, and may display a uniform brown or dark brown color, often with linear striations.

What is Lentiginous?

Lentiginous is a descriptive term of a pattern of melanocytic growth as individual cells along the dermal epidermal junction.

What does Lentiginous mean?

Definitions of lentiginous. adjective. relating to or covered with or resembling freckles. synonyms: freckled, lentiginose patterned. having patterns (especially colorful patterns)

Can you live 20 years with melanoma?

Survival for all stages of melanoma

Generally for people with melanoma in England: almost all people (almost 100%) will survive their melanoma for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed. around 90 out of every 100 people (around 90%) will survive their melanoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis.

What does Stage 1 melanoma look like?

Stage IA Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is less than 1.0 millimeter thick (less than the size of a sharpened pencil point) with or without ulceration (broken skin) when viewed under the microscope. Stage IB Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is more than 1.0 millimeter and less than 2.0 millimeters thick without ulceration.

Is melanoma a death sentence?

Metastatic melanoma was once almost a death sentence, with a median survival of less than a year. Now, some patients are living for years, with a few out at more than 10 years.

What does subungual mean?

Subungual is a type of melanoma that starts under the nails. “Subungual” is a Latin word meaning “beneath the nail or claw.” The early signs of subungual melanoma are not always noticeable when they occur under the nails. This makes subungual melanoma particularly difficult to detect and treat early.

What does Acrodermatitis mean?

Acrodermatitis, or Gianotti-Crosti syndrome, is a common skin condition that typically affects children between the ages of 3 months and 15 years. The full name of the disease is “papular acrodermatitis of childhood.” Acrodermatitis causes itchy red or purple blisters to form on the body.

How long does it take for melanoma to spread to organs?

How fast does melanoma spread and grow to local lymph nodes and other organs? “Melanoma can grow extremely quickly and can become life-threatening in as little as six weeks,” noted Dr. Duncanson. “If left untreated, melanoma begins to spread, advancing its stage and worsening the prognosis.”